================================================================ INDOOR ROWING NEWSLETTER #147 ======================== 25-September-2006 ========================= _________________________________________________ C O N T E N T S 1. Indoor Rowing Survey 2. Cartoon By Rog 3. Concept2 British IRC 4. Schools Indoor Rowing League 5. Ranking Challenges 6. Fundraising Events 7. University League 8. Concept2 British Rowathlon Series 9. Forthcoming Races and Events **************************** Feedback Back Issues Subscription Information ________________________________________________________________ With Bells On ***************** For a glitzier, HTML version of our newsletter with pictures, cartoons and all the funny jokes (possibly), go to: http://www.concept2.co.uk/email/newsletter.htm. To receive the newsletter in HTML format, send an email to subscription@concept2.co.uk with HTML as the subject title. How To Write To Us ***************** Please don't reply directly to this email, 'cos we won't ever see it. Instead send your bouquets or brickbats to editor@concept2.co.uk. Indoor Rowing Glossary ***************** A guide to some of the more common terms used in indoor rowing can be found at http://www.concept2.co.uk/rowing/glossary.php ========================================================= Indoor Rowing Survey ========================================================= RMS Sports Consultants have been appointed by Concept2 to undertake an independent review and study on the use of the Concept2 Indoor Rower and the development of indoor rowing. It will identify existing indoor rowing provision, and development programmes, as well as look at how indoor rowing can be further developed across the UK, particularly relating to it being developed as a cross-training tool. Indoor rowing has significantly grown in popularity over the last 10 years and today has over half a million participants regularly using the Concept2 Indoor Rower at home, and throughout gyms, fitness clubs, leisure centres, rowing clubs and schools. Concept2 Ltd, a member of the Fitness Industry Association has supported this growth in terms of organising a competition structure, which caters for all ages and abilities, developing an instructor education programme and Schools education initiative. They have also worked in partnership with several organisations including the Youth Sports Trust, Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Trust, Amateur Rowing Association, Rugby Football Union, Steve Redgrave Trust, and Birmingham City Council to name but a few to develop various indoor rowing initiatives to raise levels of participation. In view of this growth there is now a need to completely review the indoor rowing structure to ascertain how it can be improved and developed further. Part of this process will involve an extensive survey with Concept2 customers as a means to examine current provision, good practice and future needs. RMS Sports Consultants are asking people to fill in an online survey at http://www.concept2.co.uk/survey/survey.php?surveyid=1, if they get chance, by Sunday, 1st of October 2006. All returned surveys will be entered into a prize draw to win up to five 'Fly America Free' vouchers, as well as up to 10 runners up prizes worth over £100. ========================================================= Cartoon By Rog ========================================================= http://www.concept2.co.uk/email/images/cartoon147.jpg ========================================================= Concept2 British Indoor Rowing Championship ========================================================= The Concept2 British Indoor Rowing Championship is the world's biggest indoor rowing race and the largest indoor sporting event in the UK, with over 3,000 competitors expected to race at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham on November 12th. It takes place in a high-octane environment with races going on throughout the day where competitors race up to 2,000m in the quickest possible time, and it provides a stage for indoor rowing enthusiasts to test themselves on a national level and assess their own performance and progress. The entry deadline for the championship is Friday, October 20th for postal entries, and Monday, October 23rd for online entries. Hall Of Fame ################### The Hall Of Fame was set up a few years to help remember those people who have helped to make the championship the biggest and most exciting mass-participation indoor event in British sport. There were eight people initially inducted into the Hall Of Fame with two more spots filled after a public vote. This year, John Hodgson and Matthias Siejkowski have been inducted into the Hall of Fame with another two spots to be filled, again by a public vote. The eight choices are Anna Bailey, Graham Benton, Debbie Flood, Jo Hammond Geoffrey Knight, Roger Prowse, Graham Price and Beth Rodford. People have until October 31st to choose their two preferences. You can find out more on the nominees at http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/nominees.php while the Voting Booth is at http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/fame.php. Team Events ################### The British IRC is constantly evolving and this year the biggest change is the expansion of team events. In previous years there have just been two team categories for J16s and Adults. Reflecting the huge growth in participation from school age competitors and university students and feedback for more adult categories, this year's championship offers the following male and female team categories for teams of four: Junior: J11, J12 (500m); J13, J14 (750m); J15, J16, J18 Hwt, J18 Lwt (1,000m) Student: Open Hwt & Lwt (1,000m) Adult: Open Hwt & Lwt (1,000m) For more information, or to enter, go to http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/teams.php Freshers Challenge ################### To help promote the retention of talented Freshers and the development of new athletes within rowing, Concept2 and BUR have joined forces again to run the Freshers Challenge, Second Edition. The Challenge is open to all universities, but only first-year, first degree athletes may compete. The Challenge is based on five events: the British IRC, Regional IRCs (Durham, Southampton, Manchester), the Head of the River and the BUR Regatta Long Course and Sprints and is open to all first year, first degree students. The "crews" can change between each round of the competition as athletes develop, or different skills are required. In 2006 Nottingham successfully "Chased the Eight" with Manchester taking the second place prize - who will benefit this year from a brand new eight in their boathouse? Further information is available from either http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/news.php?story=freshers_challenge_2006 or nigel.mayglothling@nottingham.ac.uk. Race Machine Offer ################### All the race machines used at the championship are on sale to anybody who can collect them on the day. This year we will be using the brand new Model D with PM4. The price will be £899 as opposed to the retail price of £1045 and the machines are available on a first come first served basis meaning that, even if you're not competing, if you can get over to Birmingham on November 12th for about 5:30 p.m., you can pick up a barely used Indoor Rower for £146 off the normal price. To book a machine, you can either contact Concept2 on 0115 945 5522 during office hours on Monday to Friday, or you can download the PDF below and post your details to us. ========================================================= Concept2 Schools Indoor Rowing League ========================================================= The closing date for the first round of the Schools League is 12pm on Monday October 2nd, if you're associated with a school in anyway, and know where the pupils can get access to an Indoor Rower for at least one day a month, then make sure you let them know about the League. Don't worry either if you can't get a team together before then, however, as teams can join in at any point in subsequent rounds. The Schools League is a national tournament in which boys and girls race in year group teams in relay format on one Concept2 Indoor Rower. Teams race in their own school, submit their results via the website and entry is absolutely free. Round by round and overall results are then available for the separate year group leagues within a day of each round closing. The tournament consists of 6 rounds from September to March. Each round has a different race format and a team doesn't need to consist of exactly the same rowers in all rounds. This year sees a number of innovations, including: - Every team has their own web page that they can upload race reports, photos, stories etc. about their team, their school and their efforts - There is now a male and female teacher/parent category to allow enthusiastic dads, mums and at least one teacher to have a go - Teams from outside Britain (and Northern Ireland) can now enter, although they are not eligible for the main prizes - A trophy to the winners and ten gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the top three British teams in each category - We now have a Schools Message Board for you to discuss school indoor rowing matters on ========================================================= Concept2 Ranking Challenges ========================================================= Each month, every British person who uses the Online Ranking and completes that month's ranking challenge will be entered into a prize draw for some excellent Gaiam exercise equipment. September's challenge is to row a 30-minute piece. The top Olympic men cover over 9,000m and this is with their rate capped at 20! Doing it this way is a test of strength endurance. There is no rate cap for you though, you just have to complete it as fast or as slow as you want. As well as the Ranking Challenge, there is also a Participation Challenge. Each calendar month, if you log over 50,000m if you're an adult, 20,000m if you're under 18 or 10,000m if you're under 15, you'll be entered into a prize draw, with six winners getting a prize of a Gaiam Stretching Starter Kit with a RRP of £24.99. August's challenge was to row for a minute. The first four names out the hat all received a POWERbreathe Sport, while the next four received a Gaiam Sports Conditioning Kit. Powerbreathe Sport Winners Hetta Morath, Leeds Nigel Madeley, London Samuel Kemp, London Ashley Glover, Walton On Thames Gaiam Sports Conditioning Kit Matthew Greenow, Penarth David Howells, Carmarthenshire Sean Vickers, Widnes Kay McLean, Yateley The six winners of the Gaiam Stretching Starter Kit are: Phil Hewitt, Wigan Andrew Jones, Kenilworth Alf Martin, Poole Peter Eddowes, Birkenhead Jonathan Sage Matthew Walker, Bristol For more information, visit http://www.concept2.com/sranking03/uk/challenges.asp while to sign up for the Online LogBook, just go to http://www.concept2.com/sranking03/log.asp. ========================================================= Fundraising Events ========================================================= Every week, people up and down the country are using the Indoor Rower to raise money for good causes. We're in the process of developing a new Fundraising section of our website which will help to promote and write up these events, as well as assist you in getting your own underway. Make sure, then, that you send us in all your stories and reports so that we can get them up for the entire world to see, just like the events below. Anna's 100,000m Record Row For Charity ################### Anna Bailey sets a new Women's 50-59 Hwt World Record recently, rowing 100,000m in a time of 7:43:58.9. She also used the row to raise funds for charity. In the row Anna burnt 5,000 calories and dropped 1.5 kilos in weight. Her average split was 2:19.2 at a steady 18 strokes per minute. Her rowing plan was prepared by Eddie Fletcher. Read the full report at http://www.concept2.co.uk/news/news.php?story=anna_bailey Lachlan McGurk's Fundraising Campaign for Cancer Research UK ################### Lachlan McGurk has raised over £4,000 for Cancer Research UK by taking his Rower's Roadshow around the country and coming up with various fundraising challenges. With a website and online donating he captured supporters' imagination. Sadly, he is emigrating to work in Canada in early 2007, as his company needs his talents there, but look out for him at the Concept2 British IRC. The interest shown by his colleagues at EU-Matic Ltd. in Coventry at his recent team challenge could well see Indoor Rowers in their break out rest areas. Read the full report at http://www.concept2.co.uk/news/news.php?story=lachlan_mcgurk ========================================================= Concept2 British University League ========================================================= The Concept2 British University League is a worldwide university tournament delivered by Concept2 and British University Rowing. In it, teams of eight university students representing their university or college club race in relay format on one Concept2 Indoor Rower. There are six monthly challenges from October through to March, and two distinct leagues with categories for male and female teams within each league. Broadly as the season progresses the challenges get tougher and the competitors get fitter! At the end of the season the top British team in each league category will win the League Championship trophy and the top three British teams will win gold, silver and bronze medals respectively. The deadline for entry for the first round is November 6th, although you can join in at any time. To find out more, or to sign up, go to http://www.concept2.co.uk/universities ========================================================= Concept2 British Rowathlon Series ========================================================= The third race in this year's Concept2 British Rowathlon Series took place at Reading on September 9th. Full results can be found at http://www.concept2.co.uk/rowathlon/results.php. Round 4 of the series took place at Thruxton last Sunday, and results for that should be available shortly. The final race in the series is at Marlow on Sunday, October 1st, and if previous years are any guide, it should be an excellent day's racing. To enter, download an entry form from http://www.concept2.co.uk/rowathlon/ ========================================================= Forthcoming Races And Events ========================================================= Name: Marlow Rowathlon Date: 01/10/06 Venue: Marlow Distance: 4km row, 25km cycle, 7.5km run Organiser: Rowing Triathlon E: info@rowingtriathlon.com W: http://www.rowingtriathlon.com/ Name: Newark IRC Date: 21/10/06 Venue: Newark RC Distance: 1,609m and 500m; one minute for U12s Organiser: Graham Price T: 07793 437582 E: gprice@itwpromedia.com ____________________________________________________FEEDBACK You like? You dislike? You want to write something for the newsletter? Want to mock us on making a basic error? Make sure to tell us at editor@concept2.co.uk. 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